Spreading-section for overhead conveyers.



P. W; BRIGHT. SPREADING SECTION FOR OVERHEAD GONVEYERS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. Q, 1908.

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F. W. BRIGHT. SPREADING SECTION FOR OVERHEAD GONVEYERS APPLICATION FILEDSEPT. 9, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910.

3 SHEETS-BEBET 2.

F. W. BRIGHT. SPREADING SECTION FOR OVERHEAD GONVEYERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. Q, 1908.

Patented June 14,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTORNEY.

WITNESSES.-

ANDREW a GRAHAM co, FNOTO-UYHOGRAFHERS, WASHINGTON, D, Q

UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. BRIGHT, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

SPREADING-SECTION FOR OVERHEAD CONVEYERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK IV. BRIGHT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kansas City, in the county of. Wyandotte and Stateof Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpreading- Sections for Overhead Conveyers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a spreading section for over head conveyers, andmore particularly to a device of that class for use in packing houses,wherein the halves of a beef may be spread preliminary to the splittingoperation.

In accomplishing the above object, I have provided the improved detailsof structure presently described and pointed out in the claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure I is a top plan view of a portion of an over head conveyerincluding a spreading section constructed according to my invention.Fig. II is an end view of same looking in the direction of the arrowFig. I. Fig. III is a horizontal sectional view on the line III-III,Fig. II. Fig. IV is an enlarged detail view of the sliding rail section.Fig. V is a horizontal section of same on the line VV, Fig. IV. Fig. VIis an enlarged detail View of the slotted hanger plate in section on theline VIVI, Fig. II. Fig. VII is a vertical section of the valve. Fig.VIII is a horizontal section of same.

In referring more in detail to the parts, I will not describe theconstruction of the main body of the conveyor for the reason that it maybe of any suitable type comprising a supporting rail and propellermechanism.

In the present conveyer the rail is stationary with the exception of thespreading section, and the propeller comprises an endless belt havingarms adapted for projection into the path of the rail hangers, and foractuating engagement therewith.

In the drawings, 1 designates stationary portions of the conveyer railwhich may be supported by permanent hangers from the ceiling or walls ofthe building within which the device is located.

2 designates a track for the support of the propelling mechanismheretofore described as preferably comprising an endless belt, indicatedby numeral 3, and having the laterally projecting arms 4.

5 designates a trolley, the wheel 6 of which is adapted for travel alongthe rails 1 when Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 9, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 452,307.

engaged by a propeller arm and is preferably provided with a laterallyprojecting portion 7 for supporting a shackle.

It is readily apparent from the description and drawings that with acontinuous track of this kind the halves of a beef may be supported fromadjacent trolleys and conducted from place to place through the mediumof the propeller belt and arms. In order, however, to facilitate thesplitting of the beeves it is the purpose of my present invention tospread the halves of each beef at a predetermined point on the conveyermechanism, and to do this I provide means for retarding the travel ofthe trolley from which the .last half of a beef is suspended, while thetrolley supporting the first half of same is conducted along the rail tothe desired spreading distance; such mechanism also comprising means forautomatically releasing the second trolley and means for retaining samea proper distance from the one carrying the first half of the beef.

Referring now to the spreading parts, 8 designates a plate that isrigidly secured to the stationary portion of the rail 1 at one end ofthe spreading section and is provided with the longitudinal slots 9.

10 designates a sliding member, one end of which is adapted for abutmentagainst the stationary rail 1 and is supported by the pins 11 which arecarried by and adapted for travel in the longitudinal slots 9 of theplate 8; such pins preferably comprising the shanks 12 which arethreaded into the slide 10 and the heads 13 which engage the outersurface of the plate 8 and anchor the parts together.

Pivoted to the slide 10, opposite the end adapted for abutment againstthe stationary rail 1, is a spreading rail section 14, and pivotallyconnecting the other end of section 14 is a rail link 15, the slide 10,section 14 and link 15, when in their normal or unbroken condition,being adapted to cooperate with the stationary rail sections 1 to form acontinuous track over which the trolleys 5 may travel.

J ournaled at the side of the conveyer, adjacent to the spreadingsection, are the vertical shafts 16 and 17, upon which are mounted thesprocket wheels 16 and 17 18 designates a chain belt which is adaptedfor travel over the sprocket wheels noted and is provided with thelaterally proj eeting arms 19, which are preferably three in mini her,are arranged at equal distances apart on the belt and are adapted toextend into the path of the trolleys 5, so that they may be engagedthereby during the travel of the trolleys on the conveyer rail.

20 designates a valve which is supported over the shaft 16 by the intakepipe 21 and exhaust pipe 22, which pipes enter through the valve casingat different elevations, as illustrated in Figs. II and VII.

3 and 24 designate conduits leading from diametrically opposite ports inthe top of the valve casing to the respective ends of a cylinder 25which is preferably suspended from a frame 26 that extends transversallyover the conveyer mechanism.

The core 27 of valve 20 is provided with an upper peripheral ring groove28 that is adapted for constant communication with the intake pipe 21and has a vertical groove 29 that is adapted for connecting the ringgroove 28 with the port of either of pipes 23 or 24, according to theposition of the core.

30 designates a lower ring groove which is adapted for constantcommunication with the exhaust pipe 22 and with a conduit 31 whichextends vertically through the core body into position for communicationwith the port ofeither the pipe 23 or 24 according to the position ofthe core, the ports being so arranged that when one end of the cylinder25 is in communication with the intake pipe 21, the opposite end of thecylinder will be a in communication with the exhaust pipe 22.

The valve core 27 is rigidly connected with the shaft 16 upon which thesprocket 16 is mounted, so that upon the revolution of the shaft andsprocket the valve core will be turned to bring the intake and exhaustpipes into communication with the pipes 23 and 24, as hereafter morespecifically described.

32 designates a plate that is suspended transversally over the conveyerrail and has a curved slot 33 within which the pins 34 are adapted totravel; such pins being pro vided at their upper ends with the heads 35by which the pins and the parts attached thereto are supported. At theirlower ends pins 34 carry a plate 36 from which a hanger arm 37 issuspended; such arm in turn being connected with the rail link 15 whichit supports while the latter is in both its direct and broken positions.

38 designates a piston which is adapted for travel in cylinder 25 andhas a rod 39 which extends through a bearing 40 and is pivotallyconnected at its outer end, preferably through a link 41, with thehanger arm 37.

42 designates a shaft which is revolubly mounted near the line ofprojection of the piston 38 and has secured thereto the arms 43 and 44,the former of which projects across the path of the trolleys, when thelatter are traveling over the broken path formed by the spreading of therail section, and the latter being provided with a spring 45 by means ofwhich both of the arms are held in the position indicated, the rearsurface of the arm 44 being adapted for abutment against a dog 46 toprevent the retraction of the arms by spring 45.

47 designates a rod which is connected at one end with the slide plate36 which supports the movable trolley hanger, and at the other end withan operating lever 48 having the hand crank 49 by which the parts may beoperated by hand should there be a failure of the automatic parts.

In the use of the apparatus, the trolleys 5 are moved over the conveyerrails by the propeller arms 4. After the trolley from which the firsthalf of a beef is suspended has moved into the broken rail section, itshanger engages one of the arms 19 on the belt 18 and carries the samealong therewith; such travel of the belt 18 causing a revolution of thesprockets 16 and 17 and the shafts 16 and 17. \Vhen shaft 16 is revolvedit turns the valve core 27 so that the conduit 29, which has constantcom munication with the intake pipe 21, is brought into communicationwith the pipe 24 leading to the outer end of cylinder 25. As soon ascommunication between the intake pipe 24 and the cylinder 25 isestablished the fiuid medium for creating a pressure in the cylinderenters the cylinder and forces the piston 38 forwardly. Upon the forwardtravel of piston 38 the sliding plate 36, hanger arm 37 and rail link 15are moved laterally, spreading the broken rail section, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. III; such breaking action being made possiblebecause of the pivotal connection between the rail link 15, section 14and the slide 10, the pins 11 of the latter moving through the slot 9 inthe plate 8 proportionately to the lateral movement of the rail parts.The parts are so arranged that the trolley carrying the first half ofthe beef will pass the point at which the arms 43 and 44 are lo catedbefore the rail parts are broken sufliciently to produce an engagementof the trolley hanger with the arm 43, but are so arranged that afterthe first half has passed the arm, the rail parts move outwardly tocause an engagement of the trolley carrying the second half of the beefwith such arm. The arm 43, being held by the spring 45, detains thesecond trolley while the first continues its travel, the second trolleybeing held until the belt 18 has traveled a sufiicient distance toproduce a revolution of the valve core that will carry the verticalintake groove 29 out of communication with the pipe 24 and intocommunication with the pipe 23, and the exhaust conduit 31 out ofcommunication with the pipe 23 and into communication with the pipe 24:.When the position of the valve core has been changed as described, thefluid pressure medium will exhaust from the outer end of the cylinderand enter the inner end through pipe 24, so that the piston is forcedbackwardly to its original position, thereby withdrawing the slide 36,hanger arm 37 and rail section 15 into alinement with the main body ofthe conveyer rail and drawing the trolley hanger 5 out of engagementwith the arm 43, so that it is permitted to continue its travel alongthe rail. As the trolley carrying the last half of the beef'has beendetained a sufficient length of time to produce a material spreading ofthe carcass, there is a tendency of the trolleys to be drawn togetherbecause of the weight of the carcass. This act-ion is, however, obviatedby the engagement of the first trolley with the forward face of one ofthe propeller arms, and the engagement of the second trolley with therear face of a succeeding arm, so that the parts of the beef are heldapart in position to facilitate the splitting operation.

It is readily apparent that should the cylinder or valve parts fail tooperate properly the pivoted rail section may be broken through themedium of the hand lever, previously described.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent is l. The combination with astationary conveyer rail having an interrupted span and a slotted plateat one endv of said span, of movable rail members pivotally connectedwith each other and with the stationary rail at one end of the span,means on one of said members adapted for travel in the slots in saidplate, and mechanism whereby the movable rail members may be moved fromand to alinement with the stationary parts while retaining their ends incooperative relation thereto.

2. The combination with a main conveyer rail, of a spreading railsection adapted for cooperation with the main rail and for lateralprojection therefrom, trolleys adapted for travel on the main rail andspreading section, means for engaging a trolley on the spreading sectionwhen the latter is projected, and mechanism for actuating the spreadingsection.

3. The combination with a conveyer rail having a section adapted tospread laterally from alinement with the main rail body, of trolleysadapted for travel on the conveyer rail, mechanism for actuating thespreading rail section, and means adapted for actuation by a conveyertrolley, whereby the motive power for operating the rail sectionactuating mechanism is controlled.

4:. The combination with a conveyer rail having a section adapted tospread laterally from alinement with the main rail body, of means foractuating the spreading section, means for controlling the applicationof a powermedium to said means to induce operation thereof alternatelyin opposite directions, and trolleys adapted for travel on the conveyerrail and for operative engagement with the power controlling means.

5. The combination with a conveyer rail having a section adapted tospread laterally from alinement with the main rail body, of trolleysadapted for travel on the conveyer rail and means for actuating same,niechanism whereby the spreading section may be moved from and toalinement with the main rail body, means for controlling the applica-.

tion of power to the mechanism for actuating the spreading rail sectioncomprising, in part, an arm adapted for projection into the trolleypath, and means for detaining a trolley on the spreading section whilesaid arm is propelled by a preceding trolley, substantially as setforth.

6'. The combination with a conveyer rail, of trolleys adapted for travelon said rail, means whereby one of said trolleys may be detained withoutinterrupting the travel of preceding trolleys, and means for actuatingsaid trolleys and maintaining a spreading interval between a precedingtrolley and the one detained, after the release of the latter.

7. The combination with a conveyer rail having a spreading section, ofmechanism for moving such section from and to alinement with the mainrail body, trolleys adapted for travel on said rail, means forcontrolling the flow of a fluid power medium to such mechanism todetermine the direction of its operation, an arm forming part of thecontrolling mechanism and projected into the path of said trolleys, andmeans for detaining a trolley on the spreading section until the arm anda preceding trolley, by which the arm is actuated, have reached apredetermined point in advance of the one detained. 4

8. The combination with a conveyer rail having a spreading section, of acylinder having a piston connected with said spread ing section,conduits for conducting a fluid pressure medium to opposite ends of saidcylinder, a valve for controlling the supply of fluid pressure medium tosaid conduits, trolleys adapted for travel on said rail, and meansadapted for actuation by said trolleys whereby the valve may be operatedto admit the fluid pressure medium into said conduits alternately.

9. The combination with a conveyer rail having a spreading section, of acylinder having a piston operat-ively connected with said spreadingsection, separate conduits for conducting a fluid pressure medium toopposite ends of said cylinder, a common valve adapted to supply eitherof said conduits being arranged to open to one conduit when a trolleyhas traveled a predetermined distance in engagement with the belt armand to the opposite conduit after a further predetermined travel of thetrolley and arm.

10. The combination with a conveyer rail having a spreading sectioncomprising pivotally connected rail members and a sliding section, of asliding plate having a hanger connected with one of the members of saidspreading section, trolleys adapted for travel on said rail, a cylinderhaving a portion connected with said hanger, means for conducting afluid pressure medium to opposite ends of said cylinder, and meansactuated by said trolleys for controlling the flow of such medium to thecylinder.

11. The combination with conveying means provided with means forengaging and independently supporting the hind quarters of a carcass, ofmeans cooperating with said supporting means by which the hind quartersare moved apart and so held preparatory to the splitting operation.

12. The combination with a conveyer comprising a rail and a plurality oftrolleys on said rail, of means for moving the trolleys along the rail,and means by which one of the trolleys may be automatically disengagedfrom the moving means and retained stationary for a period of time andthen restored to its engagement with the moving means.

13. In a beef dressing apparatus for packing houses, a conveyermechanism comprising a rail and parts adapted for travel thereon, a partof said rail being ointed and provided with a sliding portion, wherebyit is enabled to spread laterally out of alinement with the main body.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK WV. BRIGHT.

Witnesses:

J AMES FENNELL, E. B. Housn.

